Minnesota Gophers' Gary Tinsley stops New Mexico State's Austin Franklin during the third quarter of the Minnesota Gophers football game against the New Mexico State University on Saturday, September 10 , 2011 at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Pioneer Press: Sherri LaRose-Chiglo)

U of M student Sarah Cham, 18 of Worthington, sheds tears during a candlelight vigil for former University of Minnesota football player Gary Tinsley in Minneapolis, Minn., on Friday, April 6, 2012.
(Pioneer Press: Ben Garvin)

Gopher football players hold up the number15, jersey number for former University of Minnesota football player Gary Tinsley, during a candlelight vigil in Minneapolis, Minn., on Friday, April 6, 2012.
(Pioneer Press: Ben Garvin)

Gary Tinsley, a recent University of Minnesota football player who dreamed of turning pro after graduation this spring, was found dead in his Minneapolis dormitory room Friday morning, April 6.

The death of the 22-year-old Jacksonville, Fla., native shook Gophers athletics and left authorities unable to immediately explain why he died.

Investigators are treating the death as “suspicious” because it involved a “young athlete,” University Police Chief Greg Hestness said at a news conference later Friday, adding that there was no evidence of foul play. Hestness also said police were not aware of any pre-existing medical conditions that might have caused Tinsley’s death.

Tinsley’s roommate, Gophers linebacker Keanon Cooper, found him about 7:40 a.m. on the floor of their room in Roy Wilkins Hall, not breathing, and called for help. Police officers and medics responded but could not revive Tinsley, who was pronounced dead at the scene about 8:15 a.m.

“There was no immediate indication of crime, things you would expect with weapons or a struggle,” Hestness said. “All of those things are absent. Nevertheless, a death of a young athlete is out of the ordinary…so we’re treating it as a suspicious death.” An autopsy was planned.

Tinsley completed his athletic eligibility at the end of the 2011 football season but remained in school. A linebacker, he ranked No. 2 on the team in total tackles, with 87 last season. He had 198 career tackles and was a four-year letter-winner during his Gophers career, which early on was clouded by illicit use of alcohol and run-ins with the law.

“It’s a very, very sad day for our football program and for our young men,” Gophers coach Jerry Kill said at a Friday afternoon news conference. “We lost one of ours today in Gary Tinsley, who I know is in a good place. Gary is a young man that has done everything I asked him to do since the day I walked in this door….All our hearts from our program through our administration and certainly our players goes out to Gary’s family.”

Quarterback MarQueis Gray, who also was at the news conference, said he spoke with fellow players at a morning team meeting.

“I told them that we needed to stick together, make this team stronger,” Gray said. “I know that I’ve been friends with (Tinsley) for about four or five years now, and he’s grown on me. This morning, it was bad for me as one person to come up here and address the team seeing everyone crying – coaching staff and trainers.

“It was just a sad day for Gopher Nation, as well as the Gopher football team. It’s just weird how things work. Last night, we (were) just texting each other, and today he’s gone. I guess that’s just the way God works. He was a great player, great teammate and great friend.”

Tinsley was a starter last season and was preparing for the NFL draft this offseason, which included a successful showing in early March at Minnesota’s pro day at the U’s Gibson-Nagurski football complex.

He told the Pioneer Press after the workout that playing professional football was “something I always wanted to do. It’s like I’m living out a dream. This is part of the dream. There’s a lot more to come.”

As a junior and senior, Tinsley established himself as a leader. But he had to earn the respect of his teammates after off-the-field incidents as a sophomore.

In November 2009, Tinsley was cited for fleeing police and underage drinking after being involved in a brawl near campus following a Gophers football game.

In April 2010, Tinsley was arrested on suspicion of two felony counts of fleeing police and three misdemeanors, including driving while intoxicated, after a chase on a moped and on foot in Minneapolis. That case was resolved when Tinsley pleaded guilty in August 2010 to fleeing a peace officer on foot and fourth-degree DWI, both misdemeanors.

Then-coach Tim Brewster did not suspend Tinsley after the moped incident, but Tinsley wasn’t allowed to play in the 2010 spring game. Brewster had recruited Tinsley as part of a top-20 recruiting class in 2008.

“My heart is absolutely broken over loss of GT,” Brewster wrote on his Twitter account. “So special in every way…a son to me. Gods Peace to Ronda & whole family.”

“It is always difficult to lose a member of the University family,” U President Eric Kaler said in a statement. “Gary was close to graduating from the University’s College of Education and Human Development with a major in business and marketing education.

“In addition, he was an important part of Gopher Athletics who was engaged in public service. Our thoughts are with Gary’s family and everyone on campus who knew him.”

The university said counselors were being made available to Tinsley’s fellow classmates.

On Friday night, about 200 people, including many of Tinsley’s former teammates, attended a candlelight vigil by the U’s Black Student Union held in front of Roy Wilkins Hall.

The Gophers have canceled Saturday morning’s football practice at TCF Bank Stadium.

The university is beginning the process of posthumously awarding Tinsley his degree at graduation next month. He was to be the first in his family to earn a college degree.

“I just hope they send his degree to his mom,” former Gophers wide receiver Da’Jon McKnight, who also completed his senior season in 2011, wrote on his Twitter account. “He worked so hard for it. That’s all he wanted. My bro #GT.”

Mila Koumpilova contributed to this report.

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